Tuesday, September 24, 2013

It has been over four months since I've last trained...while at times it has been nice not to wake up at 4:45 am to hit the pavement or spin class...I've also missed my workouts terribly. The bad news is I still have another 2-3 months off...but the good news is when I'm ready to come back Will (my husband) will be the coach of the Spring North Cities Run/Walk Marathon team - so how exciting is that?! Speaking of Will...his training has been jammed back...two-a-day workouts consisting of running, cycling, swimming and strength training. This weekend he will be with the North Texas Triathlon team participating in the Kerrville quarter and half distance triathlons. Come late October he will be completing his first official Ironman event - the Longhorn Ironman 70.3 in Austin which will lead him right up to Ironman Cozumel 140.6 in December...that's a full IM event (2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike and 26.2 mile run). It's a daunting task to train & complete that type of endurance event working full time and having two young children with endless activities on the weekends...at times it is hard to keep a good work/life balance but Will and I believe that all things fall into place as they should and with my time off this was the perfect time for him to achieve his Ironman goal.

So back to what the original post was about...WE WANT YOUto join us for the Spring Run/Walk TEAM! Many of you have asked how to get involved with Team in Training or how to start running or train for a half marathon, well NOW IS THE TIME! Team in Training is celebrating its 25th anniversary and in that 25 years over 570,000 participants have crossed the finish line helping LLS invest more than $875 million in blood cancer research. But the fight isn't over till we have a cure...and I do believe one day we will.It's natural for all of us to only pay attention to the cancer that's impacted us or a family member and with October days away every store will be covered in pink...but I ask what about a cancer that primarily targets our children? What about pediatric cancers as a whole who receive so little funding? The fact is; we're all after the same thing: a CURE! Since none of us knows where the next breakthrough will come from or what society/organization will find it or how it can affect the cancer we care about...I'm putting my funds and my heart into the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and I'm asking you to do the same! The scientists LLS funds are proving that a cure can be found...and you can see that in this video.

THE FACTS:

Collectively, the blood cancers — leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma — account for 9.5 percent of all cancers deaths, making them the second most common cause of cancer death, behind only lung cancer. Collectively, they also account for 9 percent of all new diagnoses in the U.S., making them the fourth most commonly occurring cancers behind lung, prostate and breast cancer.

More than a million adults in the U.S. are living with a blood cancer. The incidence of lymphoma has more than doubled since the 1970s. Scientists don't know why.

In children, leukemia and lymphoma account for nearly half of all childhood cancers.

The Spring season is training for 2 HALF MARATHONS (season begins November 16):

2. Nike DC Half Marathon - late April official date not released yet (fundraising $2900)What does your fundraising cover...first and foremost you will be guided through a comprehensive 4-6 month training program that will help you reach that finish line - walking, running or a combination of both. You will receive a training jersey and a race day jersey as well as your entry into the event. The DC event also includes your hotel stay while in DC (airfare is not included). Throughout your experience you will gain friendships and confidence and more important you will know that you have a made a difference in the lives of those affected by blood cancers or any cancer for that matter because drugs funded by LLS are now used to treatment many other types of cancer and diseases. You are invited to come to an information meeting and/or try out a training. The info meetings are spread around the metroplex so you can attend one up North or closer to your work or you can simply give us a call or email and we'd be happy to explain more. We would beSTOKED to have you on the TEAM! I've said it before...you will not regret the decision to be a part of Team in Training and help support & fundraise for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.